HomeMy WebLinkAboutProcess for Property Acquistion Information (updated 12/20/18)
ProcessforPropertyAcquisitionwithFundsfromthePublicAccess,
OpenSpaceandNaturalResourcesPreservationFund
approximatelydepositedintothe Public Access,OpenSpaceandNatural
Resources Preservation Fund (FUND) pursuant toChapter 2, Article42,Section 2-214 oftheHawai‘iCounty
Code, 1983, 2005 EditionandArticleX,Section 10-15 of the Hawai‘i County Charter.These funds are2%of
all real property tax revenues, including penalties and interest collected by Hawai‘i County each year.
1.Thepublic maysubmitsuggestionformstothe PublicAccess,OpenSpaceandNaturalResources
Preservation Commission (PONC).PONC suggestion forms may be found on-line at:
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/Browse.aspx?startid=13770&dbid=1andaredueonorbefore
thelastbusiness day of eachyear.Suggestionformsreceivedafterthisdatewillbe
consideredbythe Commissionthe following year.TheCommissionreviewsall suggestion forms,
includingadditionalinformationsubmittedi.e.pictures,maps,testimonyfromlocalresidents,
archaeologicalinformation,realestate listings,landsurveys, etc.andalso welcomes public testimonyat
PONC meetings.
2.
TheCommissionprioritizes a list of properties from the suggestion formsthatweresubmittedforthat
year, compiles all information, creates the PrioritizedList of PropertiesandsubmitsAnnual
st
ReporttotheMayoreachyearbyDecember 31.AnnualReportstothe Mayor maybefound on-line
at:http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/Browse.aspx?startid=13770&dbid=1
3.
Once a property is ranked on the list, a memberof the Hawai‘i County Council maysubmit a resolution
to authorize the Director of Financetoproceedwith negotiations foracquisition.Community
arewelcometoadvocateforthis resolution. Once the County Council approves a
resolutionto acquirethe property, the Commission will no longer consider the property for future
prioritized lists.
4.
TheDepartment of Finance, PropertyManagementDivision(PMD)may or may not open negotiations
topurchase the property. Factorsaffectingthisdecision could be:ifthereis a willingseller,ifthereis a
community group thatiswillingtomanage the property, iftherearematching funds or ifthereare other
properties that are higher priorities for acquisition.
5.
The County ismorelikelytoacquire properties that have commitmentsformatchingfunds.Matching
funds maximize the purchasing power of the FUND.Thebestuse of FUNDmoniesisto be usedfor
dollar for dollar matching funds. Thepartywhosubmittedthesuggestionformwillworkwith the PMD
and/or Council Membertoseekmatching funds. Todate,matching funds have been obtained fromU.S.
FishandWildlifeService(USF&W),Recovery Lands AcquisitionProgram(forendangeredspecies)
andtheStateofHawai‘i,LegacyLandConservationProgram(LLCP).Sourcesfor other matching
funds could possibly be obtained fromOffice of HawaiianAffairsforculturalsitesandfrom the Federal
EmergencyManagementAdministration for flood plain or flood prone lands.
Additional Information:
Article X, Section 10-15 of the Hawai‘i County Charterstipulateswhat lands may be purchasedwiththese
funds: (see excerpt from section below)
(a)Moniesinthisfundshall be usedsolely to:
(1)Purchase or otherwise acquire lands or property entitlementsintheCounty of Hawai‘i
for public outdoor recreation and education, including:
(A)Access to beaches and mountains;
(B)Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites;
(C)Protection of natural resources, significant habitat or eco-systems includingbuffer
zones;
(D)Preservation of forests,beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural
lands; and
(E)Protection of watershed lands topreserve waterquality and water supply.
The Public Access, Open Space and NaturalResources Preservation Maintenance Fund(administered by
theDept. of Parks & Recreation(P&R):Thereisavailablefor
communitygroupstoassist the County with stewardship and maintenanceof properties purchased with the
FUND.The next period that P&Rwill beacceptingstewardship grant applications will be
July – August .